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Chapter 840: The Darkest Hour of the US Empire (Fourth update, please subscribe)
Nanyang can move forward step by step, but the United States is very excited. A small satellite has stirred up public opinion in the United States to a boiling point. The two parties accuse each other one after another, and elites from various industries are discussing artificial satellites. This is not a matter of lagging behind the world trend, but a matter of life and death for Americans.

In fact, there is a public opinion basis for the United States to engage in the space race, and this public opinion basis was frightened by Sputnik-1. The general reaction of Americans now is: There is a Soviet satellite circling over our heads every 90 minutes, taking pictures and conducting reconnaissance at will. We are like naked in front of it."

After being stimulated one after another, Americans eventually became more radical in the emerging space race, attaching great importance to the research of science and technology, and carried out reforms in many fields from the military to the education system. The Advanced Research Projects Agency and NASA were established. It was precisely because of the large amount of investment that the United States was able to catch up later.

The Americans' current reaction is normal. Not to mention the United States, after being stimulated by the Soviet Union, all countries on the earth that have the ability to launch rockets have participated in it. Britain, France, and even Sweden are planning their own space programs.

The Soviet Union's artificial satellite shocked the entire Western world.

This was a major display of Soviet technological superiority, and many Western countries began to worry about whether bombs would drop from the sky.

The ones who are most worried are definitely the Americans. After all, the United States is the leader of the Western world!

The American media, which was greatly stimulated, produced a cartoon satirizing the US government: the beeping sound of the Soviet satellite woke up Uncle Sam, who was sleeping soundly, representing the United States, and the words "self-satisfied" were written on his bedside. The title question below read: Are you finally awake now?

The fierce reaction from the public and the outside world's doubts deeply stimulated the United States. The American media and people questioned whether the United States' scientific and technological strength is still the best in the world.

In order to appease public sentiment, the United States was forced to greatly speed up the process of launching its own satellite.

"It's just a radio transmitter that makes beep, beep, beep!"

In the Oval Office of the White House, Eisenhower even used an extremely contemptuous tone when describing the "beeping" sound.

"I don't know what's so rare about this."

"Mr. President, the people's sensitive nerves have been stimulated. They are just a little skeptical now. After all, everyone has always told them that the United States is the best in the world. Now they are stunned by something that humans have never built. Naturally, they are shocked."

Dulles said.

"We have to take one thing into consideration - the demands of the people. This is the most important thing for us! If we can't launch satellites, it may affect our elections in various states. Now they are accusing us of ignoring the relevant intelligence, which has led to our backwardness in space."

Of course, the "they" Dulles was referring to were the Democrats. It has always been like this in the United States. As long as there is a chance, the guys who lose the election will attack the government.

"We have to think about this politically, Mr. President."

"I know we need to think about these issues politically, but..."

Eisenhower said somewhat helplessly.

"The Air Force has proven that it's just a transmitter, nothing serious. We could always send something like that up into space if we wanted, but what's the point?"

Apparently, until now, Eisenhower did not realize what the first artificial satellite would mean to the United States.

"Yes, Mr. President, but we must now see that the American people need this satellite. Even if it is just a pair of old shoes, we need to send it into space."

Dulles, as Secretary of State, went on to say:

"And our allies are also watching the United States to see when we will put satellites into space."

"Well, it's a very simple question in itself." Eisenhower shook his head helplessly.

"But now everyone has turned him into a very complicated problem, really."

Eisenhower's experience as Allied commander in World War II made it clear to him that artificial satellites were no longer just a scientific issue.

Now it is not only a domestic political issue in the United States, but also related to international politics and the confidence of the United States' allies in the United States. In this case, they must send satellites into space.

"Let's just send this radio transmitter into space."

……

Fortunately, the United States still has some technical accumulation - it began to develop the "Corporal" rocket as early as the fall of 45. It is based on the V-2 rocket with a second-stage booster rocket. It is the world's first large liquid-fuel multi-stage rocket and the world's first sounding rocket specifically used for high-altitude atmospheric detection. It was successfully launched for the first time five years ago, with a flight altitude of 360 kilometers.

Although Eisenhower was reluctant to use this rocket developed by "former Nazi" scientists to start the US space program, the United States had no choice at all, but at least half of it was developed by the US Navy.

Just two months after the Soviet Union launched its first satellite, on December 12, major television and radio stations across the country simultaneously broadcast the launch of the United States' first satellite using a "Female Corporal" rocket, as if to stand up for the free world.

In short, according to the official intention of the United States, the goal is to use the "rocket of the free world" to fight back against the provocation of the Soviet Union and regain the number one position on the blue planet. For Americans, they are still very conceited, so conceited that they want to put on a show in front of the whole world.

Well, when it comes to performance, Americans are definitely experts.

Unlike the Soviet Union’s rocket launch, which was kept secret, all major TV and radio stations across the country broadcast the event live, and many people went to the scene to watch.

Unfortunately, just as the US officials were trying to show off in front of the whole world, right in front of the national television, right when the rocket was ignited, it exploded... right in front of everyone's eyes.

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

How is this going?

I'm not mentally prepared!
Those Americans who were holding the American flag in front of the TV, ready to shout "I'm so beautiful and awesome" when they succeeded, were all stunned. They didn't even know how to describe their feelings at this moment. In a word, it was absolute bullshit.

How can I fail?

All of a sudden, the Americans, who had been embarrassed all over the world, could no longer sit still. This incident was naturally mercilessly ridiculed by the media, and for a time, the US artificial satellite became a laughing stock.

The satellite exploded and the Star-Spangled Banner fell to the ground.

Not only did the Americans themselves feel overwhelmed and ashamed, but even the Soviet representative to the United Nations did not miss the opportunity to ridicule the United States and directly added insult to injury at the UN General Assembly.

"If the United States needs it, the Soviet Union can provide technical assistance to backward countries."

Overnight, the United States went from being the first on the blue planet to being a backward country...

(End of this chapter)